It is a hot debate bracketed by cold hard facts: What are the best methods for handling Mars samples here on Earth?
Planetary protection is a measure to safeguard our world from any contamination that could result from bringing home any potential biological material from the Red Planet that might lurk in bits of rocks, dust and atmospheric samples. Yes, the specter of "The Andromeda Strain" still lingers, as introduced in the 1969 novel written by Michael Crichton and later turned into a techno-thriller of a movie.
